Three Maldives Deputy Ministers suspended over Modi criticism

The Maldives Third-Way Democrats condemned the comments

The Maldivian government suspended yesterday three deputy ministers for social media posts critical of Prime Minister Narendra Modi after the Indian High Commission in Male raised the issue with the foreign ministry, even as the island nation’s key opposition leaders slammed the ruling establishment over the row, Deccan Herald reported.  
According to the report by Deccan Herald, the three deputy ministers criticised Modi for his post on ‘X’ following his visit to Lakshadweep, inferring that it was an attempt to project the Union Territory as an alternative tourist destination to the Maldives.  

A number of media outlets, quoting officials, reported that deputy ministers in the youth ministry, Malsha Shareef, Mariyam Shiuna and Abdulla Mahzoom Majid, have been suspended over their posts.  

The row erupted on a day President Dr Mohamed Muizzu embarked on a week-long visit to China.  

The disparaging remarks by the ministers have drawn flak in India, with many celebrities urging people on X to explore domestic tourist destinations instead of going to the Maldives.Meanwhile, Maldives Third-Way Democrats, an independent political movement, strongly condemned the comments made by a group of Maldivian politicians, towards Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the people of India.“ We firmly believe in upholding the values of hospitality, tolerance, peace and harmony that are fundamental to the tourism industry in the Maldives. Racism and discrimination have no place in our society. We firmly oppose any form of behaviour. We commend the action taken by the Maldives Government in distancing itself from the opinions expressed by these officials and emphasizing that they do not align with the governments’ position. We are committed to fostering relationships with our neighbouring countries, including India, based on respect and collaboration. It is crucial to promote unity and understanding among nations as it ultimately contributes to peace and stability, in our region. We urge individuals and organizations to unite with us in denouncing these remarks and working towards a world that celebrates diversity, treating every individual with respect and dignity. Together we can create a society that embraces the core values of hospitality, tolerance, peace and harmony which define our nation,” it said.